Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire police forces have jointly received the Carer-Friendly Tick Award – Employers for their work in supporting employees who are unpaid carers.
Established by the charity Caring Together, the Carer-Friendly Tick Award accreditation is awarded to employers, community groups and health organisations which demonstrate a commitment to identifying and supporting carers within their workforce.
The forces were awarded accreditation after meeting a series of standards, including providing a named employee as a lead for carers, having a carers’ statement that details how to access internal support, ensuring managers have an understanding about caring responsibilities, signposting to information and support, and raising awareness of carers’ issues and rights.
The accreditation runs until February 2026, after which the forces must submit further evidence to demonstrate their continued commitment to unpaid carers.
Deputy chief constable Dan Vajzovic, equality, diversity and inclusion lead at Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire police forces, said: “I am delighted that the three forces’ hard work in this area has been acknowledged through our Carer-Friendly Tick accreditation. Being a carer can be challenging, particularly when fitting these responsibilities around work.
“It is incredibly important for employers to recognise that being a carer does not mean they are less capable or committed to doing a good job. On the contrary, their additional responsibilities are likely to have equipped them with many other valuable skills, such as the ability to listen, advocate, problem-solve, multi-task and negotiate. The three forces recognise this and are committed to ensuring carers feel valued and are supported to carry out their roles to the best of their ability.”
